The Madigan Chronicles
This mystical, magical, six-book series features three generations of powerful headstrong witches from the Madigan Family and their struggle to work together to keep a centuries-old promise and stop a dark witch from claiming a powerful elemental object.
There are four magical objects in the world that rule the elements: earth, water, air, and fire. The Madigans guard the Wand of Wisdom, which governs the power of fire. When Lucy, Grandma Madigan's evil twin, steals the Dagger of Consciousness, which governs the power of air, it sets off a rollercoaster of magical mayhem. Lucy wants to possess all four magical objects and be all-powerful. If the Madigans are going to stop her, they need to overcome their differences.
THE WAND
book 3
Now Available
“Lexmond skillfully places her likable characters within a complex and fascinating world in which magic and mayhem merges with individual struggles and family drama to form a spectacular tale of supernatural intrigue, pulling readers deep into the layered drama.”
-- The Prairies Book Review
In the third installment of the Madigan Chronicles, the struggle to keep the elemental powers safe continues, and the family dramas deepen.
Ceri has a hard time finding the balance as the Keeper of the Land in Fairy and being human. Alienating her daughter, who finds a dangerous friend in Mab, the Queen of Fairy.
In the meantime, Maeve must face up to her teenage trauma and wrestles with accepting her true self. Bridget does her utmost to help her twin, to make up for some of the pain she had caused by leaving her behind all those years ago. At the same time, she is forced to take on a responsibility she never wanted and upsets the entire family in the process.
The story weaves between the perspectives of various members of this family and the drama that enters their lives primarily through
the magical elements. The family drama reflects the dynamics of a real family with butting heads, divorce, affairs, and
miscommunication, though with the added mix of fairies, love potions, and magic. Each family member has their own journey that
coincides and draws them together as they must rely on each other for support, love, and help. These relationships also drive a majority of the drama that moves the story forward. The choice of the next Guardian of the Wand of Wisdom simmers in the background of the story and the striving to obtain power. Stunning tarot cards are incorporated throughout with vivid images that feature a variety of animals. These provide backdrops to the story with the meaning of the cards providing a foreshadowing of how each section unfolds. Several locations are seen throughout as the story weaves between the characters and uses the locations as poignant elements in their lives such as Fairy, New Orleans (the family shop, Under the Witches Hat), Nevada Desert, Big Sur, and the Astral Plane. These create a background to a story that dips between a human world and a fairy one with magical elements blended into both. The Wand by Marieke Lexmond is a family drama with a variety of voices that explore self-discovery, empowerment, growth, magic, and relationships. -- Liz Konkel for Readers' Favorite
I read The Wand not having read the first two books in this series. Marieke Lexmond has done a great job of providing enough
information in the first few chapters so that I was able to become fully involved with her many characters. Lexmond's characters are
well-rounded and very memorable. Each chapter is illustrated with a tarot card beautifully rendered in black and white by Nicole
Ruijgrok. Lexmond's story is filled with action, suspense, and heartfelt emotion. She has done a marvelous job of weaving
together the various characters' stories into a complete whole. The Wand is a spellbinding story that is sure to enthrall fans of magical realism. -- Kristine Zimmerman for Readers' Favorite
Filled with magic, mystery, and a heavy dose of family drama, The Wand from The Madigan Chronicles is a wild rollercoaster of a ride you don't want to get off. Author Marieke Lexmond weaves an intricate yarn set in a meticulously crafted world that hooks you in from the first page and refuses to let go until the end. Despite the large cast, each character has their own agency in their actions. They are driven by their own varied motives that create a captivating dynamic within the narrative, keeping you immersed in the story. The plot moves quickly, with unexpected twists and turns you never see coming. If fast-paced urban fantasy is your favorite pastime, The Wand from The Madigan Chronicles is right up your
alley. -- Pikasho Deka for Readers' Favorite
THE MAGICAL TAROT DECK
book 2
"The Magical Tarot Deck" is an exciting fiction novel that readers of fantasy will love.
In this gripping sequel of The Madigan Chronicles, the Madigans thought they could relax after they retrieved the Dagger of Consciousness, but malicious Lucy takes possession of the family's Magical Tarot Deck. Now they must get it back in time before she will use it against them. Lucy sees her chance not only for revenge but also to pressure the Madigans to return the Dagger. More family secrets are forced into the open and magical talents emerge.
Alliance's shift and Fairy comes back to haunt them-- as one can never escape the Queen of Fairy that easily.
‘A unique and imaginative story, where the reader can escape to a wonderful, magical world of fairies and witches. A FINALIST and highly recommended.’ -- Readers' Choice Book Awards Summery of 5 Star review
The Magical Tarot Deck (The Madigan Chronicles Book 2) by Marieke Lexmond is a stunning novel infused with sorcery and
enchantment. It is a fabulous story with a complex plot, dual story world, and engaging characters, good and evil. The Madigan family's ongoing drama and their magical rites are intriguing, and it is fascinating to see where the series takes them. Mab, the queen of the fairies, and the frightening and evil Madigan relatives, Lucy and Mara, are the perfect villains and easy to despise and distrust. This book is the second in the series, and even though it does all right as a standalone, there are times it can be confusing if you haven't read the first one. It does leave readers on a cliffhanger, but it is an excellent segue into the next book. Everyone who enjoys urban fantasies containing witches, fairies, and voodoo, will not
want to miss this series. -- Susan Sewell for Readers' Favorite
It’s of paramount importance with fantasy stories (especially those in which magical abilities and artifacts take such prominent center stage in the story) that the rules and limitations that come with magic are established quickly and rigorously adhered to from beginning to end. The job is made harder in the second novel in a series, where the original story rules must be obeyed and expanded upon. Marieke Lexmond clearly has a full and consistent magical world ready for readers to get lost in and explore. The members of the Madigans are able to spring to life under her skillful prose and her ability to build a vivid and beautiful fantasy world. The Magical Tarot Deck lives up to the quality of its predecessor and continues a journey of conflict between dangerous forces, both good and evil. It is a highly engaging and dynamic story that has been very well told, and I recommend it to all. -- K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite
Magical realism and urban fantasy are two of the hardest genres to cover, and author Marieke Lexmond does justice to both. I love how the author sets the story's tone from the very beginning and gives readers an inkling of what will happen next. We already know Ceri is stuck, Lucy has an agenda, and Tara has no idea what is about to happen to her family. Each character plays a flawless role in furthering the plot; all of them have the power to improve and help the fight against Lucy. Bridget is slowly letting her magic blossom, which is the most fun part of the story for me. However, I don’t think that the story is any less entertaining. There is action, suspense, and a rush of fantastic plot that just kept me reading on and on. Highly recommended to fans of urban fantasy and paranormal action! --Rabia Tanveer for Readers' Favorite
THE DAGGER
book 1
Bridget, a member of the Madigan family, is a young detective working in Boston on a new murder case involving a witch. Even though she has sworn never to use magic again, she uses her powers to watch a flashback from the murder. Horrified to recognize her grandmother the family matriarch, she decides to take matters into her own hands. Not ready to implicate her Granny as the murderer, she heads back to the place she thought she would never return to, New Orleans, and confronts her family. This sets off an unstoppable magical rollercoaster and unearths some long-kept family secrets. Their family bond is tested to the limit. Will they be strong enough to keep that centuries-old promise and protect the elemental power objects from a dark witch?
The Dagger (The Madigan Chronicles Book 1) by Marieke Lexmond is a sensational urban fantasy. With thrilling scenes, a dramatic story arc, and an astounding conclusion, the book is riveting from the first page until the last. A captivating novel with an engaging plot and exciting action-filled scenes that include witches, spells, and a trip through the fairy world, it is an enthralling tale that is the perfect book to curl up with during inclement weather. Entertaining and superbly written, it is an enchanting novel that will captivate fans of urban fantasy who enjoy stories with magic related to witches in our modern era. As the first episode in what promises to be a spectacular series, fans of paranormal urban fantasy will not want to miss this thrilling new series. -- Susan Sewell for Readers' Favorite
The Dagger by Marieke Lexmond is an exceptional story filled with excitement and non-stop action. I loved all of the characters in the story; they were unique, well-developed, and definitely memorable. The author's amazing ability for storytelling and descriptive narrative brought everything to life. Lucy was an amazing character, so vengeful and calculating, and because she had no thought for others, this always gave her the upper hand. Tara's loyalty to her sister was unquestionable and she was fearlessly protective of those close to her. There are so many obstacles the Madigan women have to maneuver through as Lucy unleashes her powers against them. I thought the plots twists were brilliant; the story never once lost its intrigue or magic. There are so many different relationships that are developed brilliantly throughout.
Family feuds are resolved as past betrayals and deceptions are confronted. The storyline really highlights the rivalry within families and reminds us to treasure loved ones and not take them for granted. I will never look at a deck of tarot cards in the same way again. -- Lesley Jones for Readers' Favorite
Witches in the modern world is a beloved story concept and Marieke Lexmond gives it a fresh, exciting premise through the
first book of The Madigan Chronicles. The Dagger takes readers to a number of places such as Boston, New Orleans, Utah, and most fascinatingly, the fairy realm. The world-building is a solid combination of the real world and an otherworldly kingdom ruled by a powerful being. I was immediately invested in the depth of the plot and the complex characters. It’s not just about the conflict between witches but also about mending one’s familial relationships. Bridget Madigan has to balance her role as a
detective, as a family member of powerful witches, and as a woman who wants to live her own way of life. It's a complicated matter especially when she is handed a responsibility that she's not quite ready to handle. Some unwise decisions were made, causing hurtful consequences to the Madigan family but their bond kept them together to confront any obstacles. Lexmond's clear narrative keeps the plot engaging and tense, and one of my favorite scenes is when Luna - Bridget’s mother - releases a significant number of souls trapped in a witch’s table. Simply put, The Dagger is an enjoyable read with an intriguing ending that promises another thrilling adventure of the witches in the sequel to The Madigan Chronicles.-- Lit Amri for Readers' Favorite